This is how the UN
works. The USA, the only real superpower in the world today, will have
its way no matter what, either through bribes or outright threats. Even
the non-aligned movement of the south is toothless nowadays. There are
dozens of examples of the US doing this to countries who go against its
dictates. In this case the message is clear, "support Israel or we
will cut you off." With massive unemployment and debt burdens these poor
countries many times don't have any choice but to buckle under US demands.

WASHINGTON - The United States said
Thursday that Colombia's UN Security Council vote in favor of an international
observer force in the West Bank and Gaza Strip would have consequences
for relations with Washington.

"We made it very clear that their
vote in the UN will have consequences. We will be following that up," said
Assistant Secretary of State Edward Walker. He was answering a question
from Rep. Robert Wexler, a Florida Democrat, who said that it was time
for the United States to hold accountable countries like Colombia which
receive hundreds of millions of dollars a year in U.S. aid.

The United States vetoed the resolution
on the grounds that it was unbalanced and unworkable. The resolution, opposed
by Israel, would have recommended unarmed observers to monitor violence
between Israel and the Palestinians, although in practice none would have
been sent amid the uprising.

Colombia is a leading member of the
Non-Aligned Movement of mainly developing nations, which formed a block
in the Security Council to back the Palestinians. Diplomats said it would
have been difficult for Colombia's ambassador to break ranks with Non-Aligned
Movement colleagues Jamaica, Singapore, Bangladesh, Mali, Mauritius and
Tunisia.

State Department officials said later
they did not know what consequences the United States had in mind for Colombia,
which receives U.S. aid for its campaign to crack down on the drug trade
and make peace with leftist guerrillas.